Hair spacing pin



Feb. 22, 1966 R. D. CULLIGAN HAIR SPACING PIN FIG. 2

VENTOR. RENA DORIS CULLI GAN Q@ gw, /fm

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,236,246 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 3,236,246 HAIR SPACING PIN Rena Doris Cuiligan, Polly Park Road, Rye, NX. Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 300,036 1 Claim. (Ci. 132-52) This invention relates to hairpins for use in holding hair in one of many hair styles; more particularly it relates to a hairpin which can be inserted in a womans hair and includes a single hair spacing element for keeping portions of the hair in a raised or spaced condition.

In many of the fashionable hair styles, such as the bouffant hair style, the hair is combed high on the head to give the impression of greater fullness of hair. This effect is usually achieved by permanent waving operations, use of hair sprays, or in some other manner temporarily shaping the hair as desired. Regardless of the method used to create the hair styles, the hair tends to Hatten with time and the intended effect is often lost. Ordinary mechanical expedients presently available such as bobby pins, or common hairpins have been used in an effort to retain the hair in its set position but little success has been realized with these pins. I have developed a hairpin which particularly lends itself to holding hair spaced from the womans head and provides a discreet mechanical aid for holding hair in many unusual hair styles.

The hairpin of the invention is characterized by simplicity of construction which is a desirable feature for the advantages it gives from the standpoint of manufacturing as well as use. The hairpin consists essentially of a loopshaped member formed from prongs pressing close together which define a closed looped end and an open opposite end. A single hair spacing element is attached to the loop-shaped member and extends away from the looped end of the member with the major portion of the element extending in a similar direction as the member but relatively widely spaced from the member. The hairpin offers particular advantages when the single hair spacing element is made of a flexible material with low elastic limits whereby the spaced distance between the loopshaped member and the spacing element can be varied by bending the spacing element.

The manner in which the hairpin is used and its detailed construction is set forth in a preferred embodiment described hereinbelow with reference to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hairpin showing it attached to hair; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hairpin showing it attached to hair.

Referring initially to FIGA 1 the hairpin 10 is comprised of a unitary at length 11 of steel possessing relatively high elastic limits which has been formed into a loop-shaped member to dene a closed looped end 12 and an open end 13 defined by ends 14 and 15 of the length 11. Two prongs 16 and 17 are defined by the member 11 being folded back against itself such that the prongs press against each other in resilient contact. As shown the overlying prong 16 is formed in a serrated shape with bent portions only touching the underlying prong 17.

Attached to the member 11 at the looped end thereof by soldering or spot welding is an elongated hair spacing element 18 which is preferably formed from a piece of copper wire or the like that has good liexibility and low elastic properties. ln its normal position shown the spacing element extends outwardly from the closed looped end 12 and curves in a direction toward the open end 13 but is widely spaced from the prong 16 of the loop-shaped member 11. It is to be noted that the spacing element 18 overlies loop-shaped member 11 and thus lies in substantially the same plane.

In using the hairpin 10, it is attached to the hair by forcing lengths of hair 19 between the prongs 16 and 17 such that the loop-shaped member 11 is attached close to the head. The spacing element 18 is at the same time inserted into the body of the hair so that a substantial portion of the hair overlies the spacing element thereby maintaining the hair spaced from the head and in a higher than normal position. Of course by bending the spacing element 18 such that the distance it is spaced from the loop-shaped member is increased or decreased, a greater or lesser height in the hair can be realized.

In FIG. 2 a hairpin 20 is shown which has a loopshaped member 21 defining a closed loop end 22, an open end 23 and two prongs 24 and 25 identical to that described in relation to FIG. 1. Here however, a spacing element 26 is formed of a relatively rigid length of metal. It is attached to the closed loop end 22 of the member 21 and extends outwardly therefrom and curves toward the open end 23 in its extension such that it overlies the loop-shaped member in a common plane and is relatively widely spaced from member 21. AffiX-ed along the outer portion 27 of the spacing element 26 are a series of spaced gems 28 which provide an ornamental effect to the otherwise simple hairpin. The reason for including the gems 28 is that in the intended use of this hairpin embodiment the hair is inserted between the prongs 24 and 25 as in FIG. 1, but here the body of the hair is inserted in the wide space between the spacing element 26 and the loop-shaped member 21 thereby holding the body of the hair in its desired position.

I claim:

A hairpin comprising a unitary member possessing relatively high elastic limits formed into a loop-shaped member to dene a closed looped end and an open end defined by ends of the length, two prongs defined by the unitary member being folded back against itself such that said prongs normally press against each other in resilient contact, with one of said prongs being serrated, said hairpin being adapted to be attached to the hair by forcing lengths of hair between the prongs, and an elongated hair spacing element atttached to said unitary member and extending substantially outwardly from said looped end and curving in a direction toward the open end of said loop-shaped member and widely spaced from said loop-shaped member and lying in substantially the same plane as the loopshaped member, said hair spacing element being made of eXible material with low elastic limits, whereby the spaced distance between the looped-shaped member and the spacing element can be varied by bending the spacing element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 133,784 9/1942 Reynolds 132-50 1,016,466 2/1912 Arnold 132-51 1,415,729 5/1922 Strahan 132-54 1,596,726 8/1926 Ford 132-47 2,465,746 3/ 1949 Pereny 132-50 2,510,821 6/1950 Hodson et al 132-50 2,536,448 1/1951 Klar 132-52 FOREIGN PATENTS 159,814 4/ 1905 Germany. 686,282 1/1953 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

